Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, Feb. 13

 

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Milligan favors new windstorm proposal

The state should begin making the effort to move out of the private property insurance business, and the first step may be a proposed windstorm coverage plan due out soon, former state comptroller Bob Milligan said Tuesday.

State Chooses Investment Firm

Florida chose Federated Investors Inc. on Tuesday to take over management of its local government investment pool, hoping the private investment firm will help reassure investors who withdrew more than $15 billion in a panic last year.

Crist gives and gets wish lists

The governor pushes for Everglades restoration, national insurance and more in a visit to D.C.

Gov. Charlie Crist went to Washington Tuesday with a list of federal priorities he wants the state’s congressional delegation to address, and left with a lengthy list of state issues it wants him to consider.

EDITORIAL: Reel in insurance reform

Florida’s property insurance reforms have failed miserably.

House panel criticizes Crist health plan as risky

Florida House members balked Tuesday at Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposed health-care budget, saying it is too risky because of his reliance on using one-time money from state reserves to pay for programs that need to be funded continuously.

More Tax Cuts Could Emerge From Panel

Taxation reform commission members want deeper reductions.

Arguing that the Amendment 1 property tax cut didn’t go far enough, members of a powerful commission that has the unique ability to place issues directly on the ballot is moving ahead with a series of deeper property tax reductions.

Editorial: Crist always the includer

Charlie Crist must love the label once bestowed on him by some black legislators enthusiastic about the bipartisanship of this Republican: ‘Florida’s first African-American governor.’

Sales tax vote postponed

A plan to ask Florida voters to swap school property taxes for an expanded sales tax stalled Tuesday when a pair of economists told a powerful tax commission that the change could cost 53,000 jobs a year.

Crist names Benson to head AHCA

Holly Benson, the state’s top business regulator, will soon be Florida’s top health care regulator, Gov. Charlie Crist announced Tuesday.

Second DCF Worker Fired In Child Porn Case

The Department of Children and Families has fired a second employee connected to an unfolding investigation into the agency’s former spokesman, who was arrested Feb. 1 on child pornography charges.

Congressman Questions Crist’s McCain Endorsement

Upset that John McCain is boasting that he campaigned in Florida’s primary against a national catastrophe fund bill, a Democratic congressman Tuesday urged Gov. Charlie Crist to work harder to persuade the Arizona senator to support the idea.

House panel votes to reject D-13 challenge

It’s all but over.

Miami Gardens’ Braynon wins state House race

Oscar Braynon II, who first plunged into the world of politics at age 15, will go to Tallahassee as the next state representative for District 103 after defeating former Opa-locka Mayor Myra Taylor in a special election Tuesday.

Governor Crist to Receive Prestigious National Service Award

Governor Charlie Crist will today accept the Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award in a ceremony at Union Station’s East Hall.

State Dems to appoint delegates, hoping Florida will be counted

Local Democratic party leaders, confident the results of the Jan. 29 primary will be counted and the state’s 210 delegates will be seated at the national convention, are going ahead with plans to appoint Florida’s delegates to select a presidential candidate.

New York homeowners sue title insurance companies

First American Corp., Fidelity National Title Insurance Co., Houston-based Stewart Title Insurance Co. and 11 other insurers were sued by New York homeowners over claims they fixed prices.

Senator queries accounting bodies on subprime

A senior Democratic lawmaker on Tuesday asked the heads of the U.S. and international accounting rule-making bodies how they can improve transparency of securitized and off-balance sheet assets, such as those linked to subprime mortgages.

Buffett offers to reinsure $800 billion in municipal bonds

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said Tuesday that he has offered to help out troubled bond insurers by offering a second level of insurance on up to $800 billion in municipal bonds.

Prosecutors Say Gen Re-AIG Execs Knew of Reinsurance Wrongdoing

A federal prosecutor urged a jury in Hartford on Monday to follow the money and convict five former insurance company executives of a scheme to manipulate the financial statements of the world’s largest insurer.

 

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